As Scotland’s leading contemporary dance company prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, the success of its most recent season has brought awards recognition. 

This month saw Scottish Dance Theatre nominated in the Critics’ Circle’s prestigious National Dance Awards, where it is shortlisted as Best Mid-Scale Company for its work in 2024. This is the fourth time the company has been nominated for the award since 2020. 

As one of the few full-time dance companies in the UK, Scottish Dance Theatre has grown from its grassroots beginnings in 1986 to become a vital part of Dundee and Scotland’s cultural fabric, while keeping community at the heart of its work. The company continues to engage audiences on a national and international scale, with recent and upcoming performances planned across Scotland, the UK, Colombia, Italy, and Poland.

The 2024 season included the dynamic double-bill The Flock & Moving Cloud, which wowed Edinburgh Fringe audiences as part of the 2024 Made in Scotland Showcase before reaching communities across Scotland, including The Highlands, Moray, Glasgow and Inverclyde and touring to two of the major centres for contemporary dance in the UK: The Place in London and Riley Theatre in Leeds.

Other projects included the return of acclaimed hybrid production The Life and Times, which was performed simultaneously for live audiences at Dundee Rep Theatre and digital viewers around the world. Meytal Blanaru’s mesmerising creationRay also returned to the repertoire, in addition to a new counterpart to this production for early years audiences: Little Ray, developed with the support of Starcatchers, Scotland’s organisation for theatre and dance for babies and young children.

Every Map has a Scale travelled to Bergamo, Italy, as part of Scottish Dance Theatre’s first full-company international tour since the pandemic, performing at the Festival Danza Estate. The company brought dance to the streets and parks of the city, celebrating the beauty of everyday life. Local news outlet Italy 24 praised the performance for leaving viewers “fascinated and amazed,” as their familiar surroundings took on new dimensions through dance. 

Meanwhile, alongside Dundee Rep, the company continued to embrace its roots in the city with an ongoing community programme helping to bring dance to local people, including the year-round Engage programme hosting dynamic classes led by local dance and drama specialists. In addition, Scottish Dance Theatre delivered 130 artist development sessions, supporting 199 professional dance artists, as well as supporting 23 artists through free rehearsal space, technical equipment, choreographic residencies, and industry events in collaboration with the #LoveDanceScotland partners. 

Joan Clevillé, Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to celebrate this award nomination, which is a testament to the inspiring work the team created together throughout 2024. To be recognised for a fourth time in such a prestigious international award, amongst so many wonderful companies and artists, is a fantastic reflection of the talent in this company as well as the creative energy that characterises our home city of Dundee. As we look ahead to our 40th anniversary season in 2026 it’s heartening that our work continues to make a difference for audiences both at home and further afield.”

In total 365 companies, choreographers, performers and other creative artists have been nominated in the 2025 National Dance Awards. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on Monday 9th June.